Chunxiao Spider Lily (Lycoris chunxiaoensis)

Silhouette: T. Michael Keesey / License

Lycoris chunxiaoensis - Overview, Taxonomy and Distribution

Specimens of Lycoris chunxiaoensis collected in Zhejiang Province, China, revealed a new bulbous perennial species to the botanical community in 2024. The formal description marked a notable contribution to the understanding of the genus's diversity in East Asia.

Taxonomy

  • ∟ царство Plantae
  • ∟ division Tracheophytes (Vascular Plants)
  • ∟ subdivision Spermatophytes (Seed plants)
  • ∟ Angiosperms
  • ∟ monocots
  • ∟ order Asparagales
  • ∟ family Amaryllidaceae (Amaryllis family)
  • ∟ subfamily Amaryllidoideae
  • ∟ tribe Lycorideae
  • ∟ genus Lycoris (Spider Lily)
  • ∟ species Lycoris chunxiaoensis (Chunxiao Spider Lily)

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Morphology

The plant possesses characteristics typical of representatives of the genus, but stands out due to the elegant structure of its generative organs. The small bulb is ovoid in shape and covered with thin brown scales.

Distinctive features of the flower structure:

  • Perianth: funnel-shaped, colored in pastel pink or soft lilac tones.
  • Petals: smooth, with barely noticeable waviness along the edges, gently spreading outwards.
  • Leaves: linear, deep green, appearing after the end of the flowering period.

Interesting facts

The species epithet chunxiaoensis directly references Chunxiao, the specific town in Ningbo's Beilun District where the type specimen was discovered. Key highlights of its discovery include:

  • Year of description: Formally published in 2024.
  • Type locality: Found in Zhejiang Province, China.

Geography of distribution

  • China

Sources

  • Plants of the World Online (POWO)
  • World Flora Online (WFO)

See also

Orange Spider Lily

Orange Spider Lily

Lycoris sanguinea

An orange-flowered deciduous perennial native to East Asia, famous for its toxic bulbs and synchronized …

Read more →